West Perry softball hits skids with 4-loss week

John Shinskie (file)Amber Potter, who is batting .314, had three hits in West Perry's 6-2 loss to Susquenita in the Perry County softball tournament.

The West Perry softball team is going back to the District 3-AAA playoffs.

The Mustangs are using the back door.

On May 13, West Perry lost a disappointing 3-2 decision to Juniata that completed a four-loss week and dropped its record to 10-10 for the year.

The losing skid also shoved the Mustangs to the No. 20 slot in the district tournament bracket, the final one available.

West Perry will open the postseason at Middletown on May 20 in a preliminary-round game.

“Despite our horrible four-game losing streak this week, we somehow managed to maintain our spot in districts,” Mustang coach Vince Sledzinski wrote in his weekly e-mailed report. “With a little luck, I believe we have a good chance of driving further in the districts than we have before. Hey, who knows, stranger things have happened.”

Strange?

How about the Mustangs’ four-loss week that took the glimmer off the two-week push that preceded it and secured the bid?

The Mustangs got thumped 9-0 by Shippensburg to open the week, lost a head-scratching 1-0 decision to Newport in the Perry County tournament opener, then fell to Susquenita 6-2 in the consolation game.

Excepting Shippensburg, the lack of timely hits was the common denominator.

The Mustangs wasted Katie Dixon’s strong pitching performance in the loss to the Buffaloes. Dixon held Newport to five hits and a walk. Her offense had just three hits, didn’t draw a walk and fanned five times. Buffalo starter Tessa Campbell recorded her first career shutout.

In the loss to Susquenita, West Perry matched the Blackhawks with 13 hits, but stranded seven runners.

Leadoff hitter Kelli Valle reached base four times with three hits, including a double, and a walk, but didn’t score. Amber Potter, who was moved up to third in the batting order, also had three hits, but scored just one run.

Valle will lead the Mustangs into the postseason with her .387 batting average.

Taylor Hoak (.324), Chelsea Sledzinski (.317) and Potter (.314) are also hitting better than .300. Ashley Wood is at .296.